Breast pump system

ABSTRACT

A breast pump system having a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a three way vent valve, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield, wherein the first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the breast shield; wherein the three way vent valve is fluidly connected between the pump and the breast shield on the suction tubing; wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the breast shield and the pump; and wherein the isolation valve is connected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of utility patent application Ser. No.15/149,525 filed May 9, 2016, and of provisional patent application62/158,303 filed May 7, 2015, which are both hereby incorporated byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a breast pump system, having a lowvolume and low noise pumping configuration to pump and store breastmilk, where the storage of breast milk and positioning of the pump areremote from the breast.

Related Art

Prior art pump systems are limited to either a knob or up/down buttonsfor control of the unit. Some systems have dual controls, one forsuction and one for speed, but many have just a single control. Theytypically have either no memory device, or are limited to a singlepreset setting. Prior art pump systems do not correlate pump settings(suction, cycle time) to amount of milk produced, comfort level, or anyother quantifiable values. Prior art systems on the market store theexpressed milk in a vessel that is directly connected to the bottom ofthe breast shield. The means that the user effectively has bottleshanging from her breasts, which does not allow pumping to be donediscreetly. This is extremely awkward for the user. A further complaintis that prior art breast shields are made of hard plastic and areuncomfortable. None of the prior art devices below do what the presentinvention does.

A complaint about prior art pumps is that they are noisy and make apulsed mechanical sound. The larger the pump, the greater the noisecreated. The present invention has a configuration that provides a lowvolume pumping system that allows a smaller pump to be used, which willcreate less noise. Additionally, the present invention stores milk andpositions the pump remote from the breast.

Examples of known prior art devices are described in the referenceslisted below, which are hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. Nos.5,616,125, 7,833,190, U.S. Application 2012/0,277,728 and U.S.Application 2006/0270,973 have breast pumps that have the milk passthrough the pump. This is undesirable, since the pump now has to becleaned with each use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,327 uses gravity and notsuction to collect the milk, and can easily be upset by bending over orlying down. U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,100 has a single vacuum line that isalso used to collect the milk. Milk can collect in the pump, so that thepump needs to be cleaned with every use. None of the above referencesdisclose the claimed breast pump system with a low-volume pumpingconfiguration with the milk container and the pump remote from thebreast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved breast pump systemcomprising an improved pump that has reduced noise, a power source, abreast shield, a milk collector bottle, and a microprocessor attached tothe pump and milk collector bottle for receiving and processing dataregarding pump settings and milk volume.

The present invention further relates to an improved breast shield madeof a soft plastic or silicone polymer and configured to resemble ababy's mouth as it nurses.

The present invention is a configuration that provides a low volumepumping system that allows a smaller pump to be used, which will createless noise. The pump is configured for continuous pumping which furtherdecreases noise from switching on and off. Additionally, the presentinvention allows storage of milk and positioning of the pump remote fromthe breast.

The breast pump system comprises a suction tubing, a milk tubing, apump, a three way vent valve, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and abreast shield, wherein the suction tubing has a first and second end andthe milk tubing has a first and second end; wherein the first end of thesuction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidlyconnected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing andthe second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the breastshield; wherein the three way vent valve is fluidly connected betweenthe pump and the breast shield on the suction tubing; wherein the milkbottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the breast shieldand the pump; and wherein the isolation valve is connected on the milktubing between the milk bottle and the pump.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the present breast pump system being used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present breast pumpsystem.

FIG. 3A is a first schematic of an embodiment of the present breast pumpsystem.

FIG. 3B is a second schematic of an embodiment of the present breastpump system.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective drawing of a nursing bra of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side perspective drawing of the nursing bra of thepresent invention engaged with a breast.

FIG. 6 is rear cutaway perspective drawing of the nursing bra of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway side perspective drawing of the suction and milkseparator device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a level sensor with the milk bottle of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

The flow diagram of FIG. 1 shows step 12 as controlling the breast pumpsystem by use of a mobile devices, such as iPads or smart phones, or bycontrols on the device itself. In step 14, the pump starts pumping, andin step 16, pump parameters, such the amount of suction produced and thespeed of pumping is recorded. In step 18, the pumping is completed andstopped. In step 20, the pump system records the total volume of milkpumped and stored. In step 22, the mobile device downloads data from thepump. In step 24, the mobile device uploads the data to an onlineservice that stores and analyses the data. In step 26, the breast pumpuser can review the data that is stored, or in step 28 the data that hasbeen uploaded is analyzed.

The block diagram of FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present breast pumpsystem. In the pump housing is the on-board user interface 126 which isconnected to the microprocessor 128 and a Bluetooth LE radio. Alsoconnected to the microprocessor is the battery 130 power supply, thesensors 132 and the pump and solenoid valve control 134.

In the diagrams of FIGS. 3A, 3B and 7, an embodiment of the breast pumpsystem 100 has a vacuum pump 150 attached to a power source 300 and amicroprocessor 290. Fluidly attached to the suction of the pump 150 is avacuum cylinder 160. Fluidly attached to the vacuum cylinder is a ventvalve 170. In a preferred embodiment, the vent valve 170 is a solenoidvalve. The vent valve 170 can be a 3-way vent valve, as in FIG. 3B, or a2-way vent valve 185 with a check valve 175, as in FIG. 3A. Alsoattached to the vent valve 170 is a vent 180 with an optional silencerand a manifold 190. In a preferred embodiment, the manifold is a 3-wayconnector having three attachment ports, wherein one of the attachmentports is fluidly attached to vent 170. Fluidly attached to the second ofthe attachment ports is suction tubing 200 having a first end 201 and asecond end 202. The first end 201 is attached to the manifold, which isfluidly attached to the pump. As is shown in FIG. 7, the second end 202is fluidly attached to the suction and milk separator device 210.Fluidly attached to a third of the three attachments is milk tubing 230,where the milk tubing has a first end 231 and a second end 232. Thefirst end 231 is fluidly attached to the manifold 190 at the thirdattachment port. Fluidly attached to the second end 232 is the suctionand milk separator device 210. The suction and milk separator device 210has three ports. The second ends 202 and 232 are attached to two ports,and the breast shield 220 is attached to the third. Preferably, theseparator device has a check valve function to block flow of the suctionto the milk tubing 230. In a preferred embodiment, this check valve is adiaphragm 211 on the second end 232. Between the first and second ends231 and 232 is the milk bottle 250 with an optional lid 240. Positionedbetween the milk bottle and the manifold 190 is an isolation valve 260,which maintains vacuum in the milk bottle. In a preferred embodiment,the isolation valve is a solenoid valve. Fluidly attached to suctiontubing 200 and milk tubing 230 is the breast shield 220, which isattached to the suction and milk separator device 210. The breast shieldis molded out of flexible, soft material so that as suction is applied,the shield can comfortably conform to the shape of the breast.

Optionally, the suction tubing 200 and the milk tubing 230 can haveconnectors 270 and 280, respectively. This allows the breast shield 220and the milk bottle 250 to be disconnected from the rest of the devicefor cleaning. In a preferred embodiment, the remainder of the device 100that is disconnected is enclosed in a pump housing (not shown) forconvenience.

Further optionally, a second breast shield (not shown) can be fluidlyattached to the milk tubing and the suction tubing, so that both breastscan be pumped at the same time.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a nursing bra 400 that has removable bracups 410, as well as milk tubing 230 and suction tubing 200. FIG. 5shows a side cutaway view of the breast shield 220 and the bra cups 410applied to a breast 500 and nipples 510. The suction and milk separatordevice 210 is connected to the milk tubing 230 and the suction tubing200. FIG. 6 shows a rear cutaway of the assembled bra cup 410, theremovable breast pad 411, the breast shield 220 and the suction and milkseparator device 210 with the milk tubing 230 and the suction tubing 200attached.

Method of Operation: Three Cycles

1. Pumping:

-   -   The 3-way vent solenoid 170 is closed to the vent 180, and is        open and connects fluidly to the manifold 190 and to the vacuum        pump 150, and suction is applied to the suction tubing 200. The        isolation solenoid is closed, blocking any suction to milk        bottle 250 via the manifold 190. The pump 150 is pumping and        applies suction to the breast shield 220 via the suction tubing        200 and the suction and milk separator device 210. The low        pressure (applied suction) holds the suction and milk separator        diaphragm (which acts as a check valve) closed, blocking suction        to the milk tubing 230.

2. Semi Venting:

-   -   The 3-way vent solenoid 170 switches to open the vent 180 to the        manifold 190 and closes the connection to the vacuum pump 150.        Simultaneously, isolation solenoid 260 opens allowing suction to        be applied to the milk bottle 250 and the milk tubing 230. The        suction tubing 200 is at lower pressure than the milk tubing, so        pressure in milk tubing 230 and milk bottle 250 drops. This step        is extremely brief (˜0.2 second), such that milk bottle 250        pressure drops but does not have long enough to come to        equilibrium with atmosphere via vent 180. The pump 150 is        blocked in, but continues to run, accumulating vacuum in vacuum        cylinder 160, which is positioned between the manifold and        vacuum pump.

3. Final Venting:

-   -   The isolation solenoid 260 closes. Low pressure remains in milk        bottle. Vacuum from suction tubing 200 continues to vent via        vent 180 and the vent solenoid 170 until the pressure rises to        equilibrium with atmospheric pressure. When this occurs, the        diaphragm within the suction and milk separator device 210 is no        longer held closed due to low pressure in the suction tubing        200, and opens due to lower pressure in the milk bottle 250.        Expressed milk is pulled through the breast shield 220 and the        milk tubing 230 to the milk bottle 250. The pump 150 continues        to run, accumulating vacuum in vacuum cylinder 160.

The Pumping, Semi Venting and Final Venting steps are repeated. Thecycle time is typically less than 5 seconds. In a preferred embodiment,the cycle time is from about 1 to 4 seconds. In a more preferredembodiment, the cycle time is from about 0.5 to 2.0 seconds. Onsubsequent pumping steps, accumulated low pressure from the vacuumcylinder 160 is applied to suction tubing 200 rapidly upon switch ofvent solenoid 170 to connect the manifold 190 to vacuum cylinder 160 andthe pump 150. This vacuum boost functionality adds efficiency to system,as it decreases how much air must be pumped by the Vacuum Pump.

The suction and milk separator device 210 is located in immediateproximity to the breast shield 220. The suction and milk separatordevice exists to enforce the separation between the milk that flows intothe milk tubing and the air flow from the suction tubing. It has threeports. The breast shield attaches to the larger port at the front. Thesuction tubing 200 attaches to a port on top, and the milk tubing 230attaches to a port centered on the bottom. Suction pulls the milk downto be collected at the bottom of the separator device 210 where it flowsthrough the milk tubing 230 to the milk bottle 250. A check valve or adiaphragm 211 may be in place within the separator device in order toensure that no milk reaches the suction port on the top of the separatordevice 210.

The breast shield interfaces sealingly with the nipple to transfersuction to the nipple and to direct the flow of expressed milk away fromthe breast to the suction and milk separator device. The breast shieldof the present breast pump system is designed to simulate the feel andaction of a baby's mouth. The shield is made of a soft silicone rubberor plastic polymer and is designed to stimulate the nipple in a mannersimilar to a baby's mouth and tongue.

The use of a vacuum cylinder allows the use of a smaller, quieter pumpthan would otherwise be required. The pressure vessel acts as a vacuumstorage reservoir. As the pump stays running throughout the cycle, thevent solenoid opens to the manifold and the pump, and closes the vent,and provides vacuum for the system. When the vent solenoid closes to thepump and the opens to the vent and the manifold, the system is vented,except for the pressure vessel, which is being further vacuumed by thecontinuously running pump. When the vent solenoid is closed to the ventand open to the manifold and pump, the lower pressure in the pressurevessel provides a vacuum boost to the system, even with a smaller,quieter pump, and the pump runs continuously rather than switching onand off.

The present breast pump system can be controlled wirelessly by an app ona user's smart phone or other digital device or by a front-panel displayand controls. The remote app gives users the option of having verydetailed control of the settings (pumping curves, detailed cycletimings, etc.), or allows simple single-slider-based control of thesettings. Further, the pump system captures the detail of the volume ofmilk produced in a given pumping session. This data is uploaded from theapp to an internet cloud service for storage, analysis and retrieval todisplay. The app also may track pumping duration, breastfeedingfrequency and diaper changes, so multiple apps or devices are notneeded.

As shown in FIG. 8, a milk level sensor 320 can be used to determine thevolume of milk pumped. As shown in FIG. 8, the sensor 320 is positionedinside the pump housing 310, running the height of the milk bottle. Thebottle is secured so that the air gap between the bottle and the sensoris minimized. The sensor electrodes are parallel to and facing thebottle. In a preferred embodiment, there is one senor per bottle and onebottle per breast so as to be able to track milk expression independentper breast.

An example of a preferred sensor is disclosed in US 2016/0,003,663A1,which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The microprocessor 290 is able to calculate the volume of milkexpressed. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor 320 can be paired witha load cell to measure the weight of the milk expressed in order tocalculate the density of the milk, yielding information about the solidscontent of the milk.

The pump system 100 can have custom settings entered by the user.Optional presets are provided that may be helpful to the new user. Thisprovides new moms with a better starting point, rather than just beinggiven a pump and told to start pumping with no other guidance. The pumpis much quieter than those currently used, because a much smaller pumpcan be used. In a preferred embodiment, a brushless motor, rather thanusing a traditional diaphragm pump, is used. In another preferredembodiment, a linear pump motor that is inherently quieter is used. Inanother preferred embodiment, a vacuum cylinder to boost the suction isused with a pump, allowing the pump to run continually, thereby allowinga smaller (and therefore quieter) motor to be used on the pump, ratherthan the pump being turned on and off. The present breast pump systemhas the collection bottle and the pump fluidly and remotely connected tothe breast shield by lengths of tubing. In a preferred embodiment,clothing and undergarments cover and engage with the shield and tubing.This provides a discreet system that can be worn under a woman's shirt.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, this improved product offers discretion inthat women will not have to remove their shirts when breast pumping. Ina preferred embodiment, the clothing that holds the breast shields areengaged with the nipple. The clothing is a three-in-one convertibleundergarment. It serves the following purposes: (1) It contains thebreast shield detailed below in the “comfortable” section, as well asthe tubes noted above; (2) It has detachable cups similar to currentnursing bras; and (3) It has built-in breast pads for when pumping iscomplete to prevent leaking milk from showing. These breast pads alsoserve as the lining of the bra.

Notice the removable cups that will allow this bra to seamlessly go froma pumping bra to a nursing bra.

Tube pathways are sewn into the bra cups. These tubes are removable foreasy cleaning. The tubes dangle down the torso of the user. As notedabove, one set of tubes will connect to the milk collection bottle, andthe other set will connect to the vacuum pump. From the side, the braconsists of multiple pieces that are hidden in the cup of the bra. Thosepieces include, outer bra cup 410, suction and milk separator device210, breast shield 220, and removable breast pad 411.

The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principlesof the invention and its practical application to persons who areskilled in the art. As various modifications could be made to theexemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to thecorresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with thefollowing claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

1. A method of using a breast pump system to express breast milk from auser's breast, wherein the breast pump system comprises a suctiontubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a vent valve, a suction and milkseparator device, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield;wherein the suction tubing has a first and second end; wherein the milktubing has a first and second end; wherein the first end of the suctiontubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to thepump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end ofthe milk tubing are fluidly connected to the suction and milk separatordevice; wherein the breast shield is fluidly connected to the suctionand milk separator device; wherein the suction and milk separator devicehas a check valve positioned at the connection to the milk tubing;wherein the check valve has an open and a closed position and the checkvalve is in the closed position when the suction on the suction and milkseparator device is greater than the suction on the milk tubing; whereinthe vent valve is fluidly connected to the suction tubing and ispositioned between the pump and the suction and milk separator device;wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to a vent to atmosphere;wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing betweenthe suction and milk separator device and the isolation valve; andwherein the isolation valve is fluidly connected on the milk tubingbetween the milk bottle and the pump; the method comprising attachingthe breast shield to a breast of a lactating person, and running thebreast pump system in a cycle comprising a pumping step and a ventingstep; wherein the pumping step comprises the pump pumping; the ventvalve closed such that the suction tubing is disconnected from the ventand connected to the pump; the pressure at the breast shield is reducedand the user's breast is drawn into the breast shield; the check valveis closed; milk is expressed from the user's breast and collected in thebreast shield; wherein during the cycle the isolation valve opens for aabout less than 0.5 second such that the pump is connected to the milkbottle; the pressure in the milk bottle and the milk tubing drops;wherein the vent step comprises the vent valve open such that thesuction tubing is connected to the vent and disconnected from the pump;the pressure in the suction tubing and the suction and milk separatordevice rises to that of about atmospheric pressure; the check valveopens; expressed milk is pulled through the breast shield, the suctionand milk separator device, and the milk tubing to the milk bottle;wherein the cycle takes about less than 5 seconds, and wherein thepumping step, and the vent step cycles repeat until milk expression iscomplete.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a vacuum cylinder is fluidlyconnected to the vacuum pump.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein in thevent step, the vacuum cylinder accumulates vacuum as the pump continuesto pump.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the breast pump devicecycles back to the pumping step, vacuum stored in the vacuum cylinder isused.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein connected to the pump is a powersource and a microprocessor; wherein the valves are solenoids and themicroprocessor is programed to switch the valves at each step.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein sensors are positioned proximate to the milkbottle to sense the level of milk in the bottle, wherein the sensors areconnected to the microprocessor which stores the data.
 7. A method ofusing a breast pump system to express breast milk, wherein the breastpump system comprises a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a ventvalve, a suction and milk separator device, a milk bottle, an isolationvalve and a breast shield; wherein the suction tubing has a first andsecond end; wherein the milk tubing has a first and second end; whereinthe first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubingare fluidly connected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suctiontubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected tothe suction and milk separator device; wherein the breast shield isfluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device; wherein thesuction and milk separator device has a check valve positioned at theconnection to the milk tubing; wherein the check valve has an open and aclosed position and the check valve is in the closed position when thesuction on the suction and milk separator device is greater than thesuction on the milk tubing; wherein the vent valve is fluidly connectedto the suction tubing and is positioned between the pump and the suctionand milk separator device; wherein the vent valve is fluidly connectedto a vent and the milk tubing; wherein the milk bottle is fluidlyconnected on the milk tubing between the suction and milk separatordevice and the isolation valve; wherein the isolation valve is fluidlyconnected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump;wherein a vacuum cylinder is positioned between the vent valve andvacuum pump; the method comprising attaching the breast shield to abreast of a lactating person, and running the breast pump system in acycle comprising three steps: a pumping step, a semi vent step and avent step; wherein the pumping step comprises the pump pumping; the ventvalve is closed to the vent and open to the pump and to the suctiontubing; the check valve is closed and the isolation solenoid closed,blocking suction to milk bottle; wherein the semi vent step comprisesthe vent valve switches to open the vent and to close the vacuum pump;the isolation valve is open for about less than 0.5 second to the milkbottle allowing suction to be applied; the pressure in milk tubing andmilk bottle drops, and the pressure in the suction tubing rises; andwherein the vent step comprises the isolation valve closes; the pressurein the suction tubing and the suction and milk separator device rises tothat of about atmospheric pressure; the check valve opens; expressedmilk is pulled through the breast shield, the suction and milk separatordevice, and the milk tubing to the milk bottle; wherein the cycle takesabout less than 5 seconds, and wherein the pumping step, the semi ventstep and the vent step cycles repeat until milk expression is complete.8. The method of claim 7, wherein in the semi vent step and the ventstep, the vacuum cylinder accumulates vacuum as the pump continues topump.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the breast pump devicecycles back to the pumping step, vacuum stored in the vacuum cylinder isused.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein connected to the pump is apower source and a microprocessor; and wherein the valves are solenoidsand the microprocessor is programed to switch the valves at each step.